Method and apparatus for forming color proof

ABSTRACT

A color proof formation method includes the steps of bringing a first color separated film original mounted upon an original mounting table into tight contact with a photosensitive material fixed upon a mounting table, and exposing the film original; separating the photosensitive material mounting table from the original mounting table; replacing or exchanging the first film original upon the original mounting table with a second color separated film original; and bringing the second film original into tight contact with the photosensitive material. The steps are repeatedly performed a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof. There is also disclosed a color proof formation apparatus including a suction unit for forming a suction groove, for bringing the film original and the photosensitive material into tight engagement with each other, between the film original mounting table and the photosensitive material mounting table while the film original mounting table and the photosensitive material mounting table are close to or in contact with each so that the film original and the photosensitive material are brought into surface contact with each other, and for evacuating the air interposed between the film original and the photosensitive material so that the film original and the photosensitive material are in fact brought into tight contact with each other.

.Iadd.This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.08/064,927, filed May 24, 1993, now abandoned, which is a Reissueapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/285,937, filed Dec.19, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,484. .Iaddend.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to color proof formation apparatus withinwhich halftone film originals, each having a separate color, areaccurately placed at a predetermined position, and an overlappingexposure technique is performed upon a positive or negativephotosensitive material a predetermined number of times, once for eachoriginal, thereby forming a copy which approximates originally printedmaterial, or within which the separate halftone film originals undergooverlapping exposure techniques with respect to a photosensitivematerial, or wherein the separate halftone film originals are layered ordisposed in a tiered array so as to be multiply-exposed upon thephotosensitive material.

Such color proof formation apparatus is effective in exposing bothmonochromatic and color photosensitive materials. In particular, thecolor proof formation apparatus is effective in forming a color proofwhich has the same colors as those of printed material, or the same canserve as a means for directly checking or confirming the presence orabsence of an abnormality within a color separated halftone original, orstill further, is effective within the film making process employedwithin the graphic arts and/or printing field which require multipleexposures. Still further, the color proof formation apparatus iseffective as a poster formation apparatus for forming posters, usingcolor photosensitive materials, from the color separated halftoneoriginals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Two types of exposure units are conventionally employed within colorproof formation apparatus. Within one type of exposure unit, light froma light source is radiated upon an original so that the original isimaged upon a photosensitive material by means of a projection lenscapable of imaging upon an enlarged scale, a reduced scale, or in scalewhich is neither enlarged or reduced. Within another type of exposureunit, light from a light source is radiated upon an original under suchconditions wherein the original and photosensitive material are disposedin intimate contact with each other.

Within such exposure units, light from the light source is radiatedeither by means of scanning exposure or static exposure techniques. Inaccordance with the former exposure technique, a compact exposure unitcan be achieved because the light source is comparatively small in size.In accordance with the latter exposure technique, however, a lightsource having a higher degree of luminance is employed, and the distancefrom the light source to the surface to be exposed is increased in orderto obtain parallel and uniform lighting characteristics. Accordingly,the exposure unit tends to be bulky.

Within the printing process field, a large amount of film is used in theprocess of forming a printing plate, consisting of halftone images, froma continuous-tone image, such as, for example, a reversal film, or acolor negative film or paper, thereby separating the colors andsynthesizing an image. This process however entails work procedureswhich are quite complex whereby many failures, such as, for example,character and layout errors, occur. In addition, since a customer mayorder a change in the characters, layout, colors, or the like, in viewof the fact that such occurs infrequently, an operator may tend toforget to incorporate such changes into the process. In addition, inorder to determine whether or not a printed material has a desired colortone and/or gradation, the material must be pre-checked. Thesepre-checked items conventionally comprises the so-called or well-known"proofing" process.

In connection with the aforenoted "proofing" process, in addition to theproduction of a trial print called or known as a "proof", a variety ofother proofing systems are now commercially available. Examples of suchadditional or alternative proofing systems are a CRT system; a systememploying a nonsilver photosensitive material, such as, for example, aphotopolymer or diazo; a system within which an image is formed by meansof a dry toner; and an electrophotography system. All of these systemshowever require a long period of time in order to complete one colorproof. In addition, the material cost is high, and the workability ispoor. Consequently, such systems are not satisfactory in practical use.

Another method of forming a color proof comprises the printing of aseparated halftone original upon a color photosensitive material bymeans of color-separated light. For example, Japanese unexamined PatentPublication (Kokai) No. 62-280746 discloses a method of obtaining acolor proof upon a color photosensitive material by means of aphotographing system which employs a projection lens. Although theapparatus for use in achieving such a process is substantially large insize, it is designed to satisfy the so-called "roomlight specifications"in accordance with which the operations or process can be performedwithin an ordinary room. More particularly, since the photosensitivematerial is maintained inside the apparatus, the exposure thereof neednot be performed within a darkroom, but to the contrary, can beperformed under normal room or interior illumination. Therefore, thecolor proofing can be easily performed within a short period of time,and at low cost, so as to realize results which are superior to those ofother proofing systems. Since this method utilizes a photography system,however, the operation is adversely affected by means of, for example,flares or the like of a lens whereby the gradation reproducibility isdegraded. More particularly, as a result of the flare or the like, thesmall-dot portion of the halftone is omitted, and the large-dot portionsbecome continuous.

Another method of forming a color proof from a color photosensitivematerial is a contact exposure technique achieved by means of anenlarger unit, such as, for example, the CARLSON PROOFMASTER SYSTEM(Tradename) which is available from CHESLEY F. CARLSON COMPANY, or aCOLOR PROOFING SYSTEM (Tradename) which is available from KREONIT, INC.Within these systems, a color separated halftone film original isbrought directly into contact with and exposed upon a colorphotosensitive material. Therefore, the gradation reproducibility islargely improved as compared with that of the photography system. Theaforenoted systems, however, cannot be operated under roomlightconditions because the color photosensitive material has a spectralsensitivity which is within the overall visible range. Therefore, anoperator is required to perform the processing operation within adarkroom.

Within a conventional printer apparatus used in conducting a film makingprocess, a transparent glass is located at a predetermined location upona mounting table, a color separated halftone film original and aphotosensitive material are placed upon the transparent glass so as tooverlap each other, and an auxiliary member, such as, for example, acover sheet, is placed thereon so as to cause any air interposed betweenthe auxiliary member and the transparent glass to be removed throughmeans of an exhaust groove formed within a predetermined neighboringportion of the mounting table, thereby performing exposure of thehalftone film original and photosensitive material from the transparentglass side of the apparatus under the conditions wherein the originaland photosensitive material are disposed in tight contact with respectto each other.

Within the film making process using the aforenoted type of printerapparatus having the above-identified exposure mechanism, tens of colorseparated halftone film originals are multiply-exposed upon onephotosensitive material either singly, that is, one at a time, oralternatively, several originals simultaneously. In such a case, thephotosensitive material must be removed from the apparatus each time anexposure is performed. Therefore, the operator must be especiallyattentive so as to perform the multiple exposures with a high degree ofpositional precision even though the apparatus also employs apositioning pin known as a pin bar.

In addition, the above-identified apparatus is not equipped with anintegral air exhaustion device or mechanism, that is, an auxiliary covermeans or sheet for exhausting the air interposed between thephotosensitive material and the color separated halftone film originalso as to in effect create a vacuum condition therebetween. As a result,partial floating of the original and photosensitive material, relativeto each other, can easily occur so as to degrade the halftonereproducibility or color reproducibility.

In order to expose color separated halftone film originals upon a singlephotosensitive material, an apparatus preferably performs exposure withthe film original and the photosensitive material in contact with eachother so as to achieve satisfactory reproducibility of halftone, colortone, and/or halftone gradation.

The conventional color proof formation apparatus, or printed apparatus,for performing the exposure as described above performs dual overlappingexposure of the film originals upon a single photosensitive material asfollows:

STEP ONE: A first film original is placed upon the transparent glasscomponent, a photosensitive material is placed upon the first filmoriginal, and both the original and the photosensitive material arebrought into tight contact with respect to each other so as to besubsequently exposed from the transparent glass side of the apparatus.

STEP TWO: In order to expose a second film original upon the samephotosensitive material, the first film original and the photosensitivematerial are removed from their positions upon the transparent glass.

STEP THREE: The second film original is then placed upon the transparentglass, the photosensitive material used in the first step is placed uponthe second film original, and both the second film original andphotosensitive material are placed in intimate contact with each otherso as to cause the exhaust of any air from therebetween and thensubsequently exposed from the transparent glass side of the apparatus.

In order to perform such an overlapping plurality of times, STEPS ONE,TWO, and THREE are repeated.

In some cases, in order to perform an overlapping exposure a pluralityof times, the photosensitive material must therefore be removed from theapparatus in order to replace the film originals and then replaced uponthe transparent glass, such resulting in poor operability from anefficiency viewpoint.

In addition, the air exhaust groove defined within the neighboringportion of the mounting table sometimes becomes clogged with pieces orchips of the photosensitive material, or the like.

Still further, the above-type apparatus does not include a specific orintegral air exhaustion device or mechanism for exhausting the airnormally entrapped between the photosensitive material and the colorseparated halftone film originals so as to in effect create a vacuumcondition therebetween. As a result, floating of the film originals andphotosensitive material, relative to each other, can easily occur so asto degrade halftone reproducibility or color reproducibility.

Yet further, in order to perform overlapping exposures a plurality oftimes upon a photosensitive material, such as, for example, a colorphotosensitive material having a spectral sensitivity within the overallvisible range, film originals must be replaced within a darkroom.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In order to resolve the problem of poor operability characteristic ofthe above-identified conventional contact-exposure apparatus, it is afirst object of the present invention to provide a color proof formationmethod which can perform overlap exposure of a single photosensitive aplurality of times by only replacing film originals, and which canperform multiple exposures with high positioning precision.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a color proofformation apparatus within which a suction or exhaust means can easilyobtain or establish vacuum contact between the photosensitive materialand the color separated halftone film originals.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a color proofformation apparatus within which the suction or exhaust groove does notbecome clogged with dust or similar materials.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for forming a color proof, within which film originals can bereplaced under roomlight conditions so as to perform overlap exposure aplurality of times upon a photosensitive material such as, for example,a color photosensitive material having a spectral sensitivity within theoverall visible range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood and appreciated from thefollowing detailed description, when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like components are designated bysimilar reference characters throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a color proof formation apparatusaccording to the present invention wherein the same comprises anintegral exposure unit and an automatic developer;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the color proof formation apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the color proof formation apparatus shown inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the positional relationshipbetween the color separated halftone film original table and thephotosensitive material mounting table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in detail with referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings.

A color proof formation apparatus constructed according to an embodimentof the present invention integrally comprises an exposure unit and anautomatic developer, as will be described below, although it is to beunderstood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to thespecific embodiment so described. In the following description, a colorphotosensitive material is used.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a main body 100 of the color proof formationapparatus includes, at an upper portion of a main body frame 101supported by means of legs 102, a film original mounting table 140having an upper surface 141 from which film original positioning pinbars 143 extend upwardly, and a lower surface 142, as seen in FIG. 4. Alight-shielding cover 120 is located above the film original table 140so as to be opened and closed in order to, in effect, form a darkroom asa first room.

An exposure unit 300 is located within the first room so as toscan/expose the original. At the center of the exposure unit 300, asingle light source, or a plurality of tubular light source lamps, forexample, three lamps 302A, 302B, 302C, as best seen in FIG. 2, aredisposed and surrounded by means of a drum-like reflecting mirror 306which is fixed to a box member or housing 316 and which is also providedwith a light-transmissive window 304. A polygonally-shaped cylinder 301having filters of B, G, R, ND, and the like, disposed upon therespective surfaces thereof, is located externally of the drumlikereflecting mirror 306 and the light-transmissive window 304 so as to beable to rotate concentrically with respect to the center of the exposureunit 300 whereby a particular one of the filters and the transmissionwindow 304 are always disposed toward or facing the contact-exposedoriginal film surface. The box member or housing 316, having a shieldingplate 308, a solenoid 312 for driving the shielding plate 308, a returnspring 314, and an exposure window 310, is disposed in surroundingrelationship about the polygonal cylinder 301. As shown in FIG. 3, theexposure unit 300 can move upon rails 317A and 317B so as to perform ascanning operation.

A photosensitive material mounting unit 200 is formed as a secondchamber within the main body frame 101. A photosensitive materialmounting table 201 is driven by means of a drive motor 214 so as to bevertically movable.

An endless, light-shielding curtain belt 242, which serves as alight-shielding member, is looped rollers 241, 242A, 243, and 244.One-half of the length of the belt 242 is formed so as to be a complete,light-shielding curtain, while an exposure window of a size greater thanat least the cross-section of the moving range of the photosensitivematerial mounting table is formed within a substantially central portionof the remaining one-half of the belt 242. In connection with such alight-shielding member 240, the light-shielding curtain belt 242 isdisposed at a level so as to be disposed slightly beneath the originaltable lower surface 142, that is interposed between the first and secondchambers, thereby alternatively defining a light-shielded and unshieldedstate within the second chamber 200, within which the photosensitivematerial mounting table 201 is located, with respect to the firstchamber.

Within this embodiment, the endless belt member is used as alight-shielding member, however, for the purpose of only shielding thephotosensitive material from light, the light-shielding member need notbe limited to the endless belt member but may be another type of membercapable of shielding the second chamber from light.

A color photosensitive material roll 402 is loaded within a magazine 401so as to form a photosensitive material loading unit 400 as best seenwithin the right side of FIG. 1. The leading end of the photosensitivematerial roll 402 is fed by means of a clamping roller pair 511 and isaligned with a cutter mechanism 510. The leading end of the rollmaterial is fed further by means of the clamping roller pair 511 towardthe left end of a fixing base 527 and is secured thereat by means ofsuction disks 523. A movable head 522 having the suctions disks 523mounted thereon moves toward, and stops at, a position at which apredetermined length of the photosensitive material is measured, rollers525 and 526, guided by means of rails 521 as best seen in FIG. 2 anddisposed upon both sides of the movable head 522, serve to guide themovement of the head 522. The photosensitive material is then cut bymeans of the cutter mechanism 510 and is then moved so that the leadingend thereof is located at a predetermined position with respect to thephotosensitive material mounting table 201. After the suction force forthe suction disks 523 of the movable head 522 is switched off, themovable head 522 returns to its original position.

Solenoids 535 are mounted upon both sides of the movable head 522through means of brackets 534 as best seen in FIG. 2. A frame 531 isfixed to movable iron cores 536 of the solenoids 535. A holding pipe 537is fixed to the frame 531 through means of a guide hole formed withinthe movable head 522, while the suction disks 523 are fixed upon thedistal ends, that is, the lower ends, of the holding pipes 537, a hose524 being connected to the upper end of each holding pipe 537. Theholding pipes 537 can slide along the guide holes, and the frame 531 isbiased so as to be separated from the movable head 522 by means ofhelical springs 532 interposed between the frame 531 and the movablehead 522. Therefore, the suction disks 523 are separated from thephotosensitive material mounting table 201. When the solenoids areenergized and a suction valve (not shown) is opened, the suction disks523 are moved downwardly so as to attract the photosensitive material402 by means of the suction forces. Thereafter, when the solenoids 535are deenergized, the suction disks 523 are moved upwardly so as to beable to convey the photosensitive material 402.

In this manner, the photosensitive material 402 is conveyed toward anddeposited upon the photosensitive material mounting table 201. Thephotosensitive material 402 is similarly attracted by suction forces soas to be fixed upon the photosensitive material mounting table 201 bymeans of suction pressure applied thereto by means of a suction holeformed within the photosensitive material mounting table 201 and aflexible hose 205 when a vacuum pump 204 is actuated. The photosensitivematerial is maintained fixed upon the mounting table 201 until theexposure of the same, the predetermined number of times, is completedwhereby conveyance of the photosensitive material to a developing unitmay then be performed.

In this state, since the light-shielding curtain belt 242 is located atthe light-shielding position, a darkroom is in effect formed within thesecond chamber within which the photosensitive material mounting table201 is located.

The light-shielding cover 120 is subsequently opened so as to permitexternal light to enter into the first chamber. In this state, referenceholes of a color separated halftone film original G, as seen in FIG. 3,or at least one of the color separated film originals, for example, theyellow separated film original, is fitted upon the registry pins or pinbars 143 which extend upwardly from the upper surface 141 of the table140 such that most of the film original is disposed upon thelight-shielding curtain.

The light-shielding cover 120 is then closed so that the first chamberbecomes a darkroom and is maintained shielded from light. After thephotosensitive material mounting table 201 is moved upwardly to aposition just below the surface of the light-shielding curtain belt 242,the latter is moved so as to eliminate the light-shielded state. Whilethe first chamber within which the upper surface of the originalmounting table 140 is located, and the second chamber within which thephotosensitive material mounting table 201 is located, form a commondark room, the photosensitive material mounting table 201 is movedupwardly to the same level as that of the exposure surface, that is, theoriginal reference surface. At this time, an airtight packing 201c, asbest seen in FIG. 4, disposed upon an upper support surface surroundingthe photosensitive material mounting table 201 and within the secondchamber is brought into contact with the lower surface 142 of theoriginal mounting table 140 disposed within the first chamber, and agap, defined between a portion of the photosensitive material mountingtable 201 which is to be fitted within an open portion of the originalmounting table 140, and the sidewalls of the open portion of theoriginal mounting table 140, forms a suction groove 206A as shown inFIG. 2. In addition, that portion defined between the original and thephotosensitive material held between the original mounting table surfaceand the photosensitive material mounting table surface by means of atransparent member, is maintained airtight.

In this embodiment, the cover sheet is used as the transparent member,however, glass, for example, can be used as long as the suction propertyor the like is not degraded.

A transparent cover sheet 275 is wound around a shaft 273 so as to forma cover sheet roll 274 as best seen in FIGURE 2. The leading end of thecover sheet roll 274 is fed by means of a squeeze roller 276 and isfixed by means of a fixing member 272 within a cover sheet holding unit270. A head 271 of the cover sheet holding unit 270 is guided by meansof rails 281A and 281B, as best seen in FIG. 3, so as to be movabletoward the right as seen in FIG. 2. As a result, the transparent coversheet 275 is fed from the cover sheet roll 274 and is biased by means ofa spring 278. The transparent cover sheet 275 is thus squeezed by meansof the squeeze roller 276 rotatably supported by means of a shaft 277 soas to cover the original and the photosensitive material. When the head21 reaches the right end of its travel, a vacuum pump 206 which servesas a pressure reducing device, operates so as to attract the transparentcover sheet 275 away from the groove 206A. More particularly, a suctionor vacuum path for sucking the air from between the transparent coversheet, the film original, and the photosensitive material, isestablished through means of a suction hose 207 which is connected to asuction hole 201f formed within the photosensitive material mountingtable 201. As a result, the air interposed between the exposure table,the upper surface portion, and the transparent cover sheet is evacuatedso that the photosensitive material, the original, and the transparentcover sheet are overlapped and brought into tight surface contact witheach other. That is, the transparent cover sheet is used as an auxiliarysuction member for evacuating the air from between the film original andthe photosensitive material so that the film original and thephotosensitive material are brought into tight contact with respect toeach other. In addition, the suction groove is located close to the pinbar and beneath the film original so that it can easily obtain thevacuum contact between the photosensitive material and the colorseparated film original. Squeezing of the transparent cover sheet,positioning of the film original mounting table 140 and thephotosensitive material mounting table 201, and the suction arepreferably performed in the above order, however, they need not benecessarily performed in the above order.

As shown in FIG. 4, in order to bring the film original and thephotosensitive material into tight contact with respect to each other, adimensional relationship between the abutting surface 201b, the airtightpacking 201c mounted thereon, and the lower surface 142 of the originalmounting table 140 is adjusted so that the upper surface 141 of theoriginal mounting table 140 and the upper surface 201a of thephotosensitive material mounting table 201 are preferably set at thesame level. In this manner, the air interposed between the originalmounting table and the photosensitive material mounting table issmoothly evacuated from the groove, and the transparent cover sheet, theoriginal, and the photosensitive material mounting table are broughtinto tight surface contact with respect to each other. Alternatively,the photosensitive material mounting table may be disposed at a positionwhich is slightly lower or higher than that of the original table.

Within the contact-exposure unit of the color proof formation apparatuswithin which the film original mounting table or the photosensitivematerial mounting table is moved, the following two arrangements can beadopted so as to form the suction groove within the film originalmounting table or the photosensitive material mounting table. That is,in accordance with the first arrangement, the suction groove is formedbetween a positioning means for the film original and the photosensitivematerial. In accordance with the second arrangement, the suction grooveis formed outside the film original positioning means with respect tothe photosensitive material.

In accordance with the first arrangement, however, a wall must be formedbetween the film original positioning means and the photosensitivematerial so as to form the suction groove. As a result, since thedistance between the film original positioning means and thephotosensitive material is increased, patterns upon the film originalcloser to the film original positioning means are sometimes not printedupon the photosensitive material.

In accordance with the second arrangement, the film original positioningmeans interferes with the suction forces. Therefore, it is difficult toevacuate or suck the air away from the center region of the filmoriginal.

In accordance with this arrangement, the suction groove is formedbetween the film original and the photosensitive material mountingtable. Therefore, the air disposed within or at the central region ofthe film original can be easily evacuated within a relatively shortperiod of time. In addition, although the suction groove is formedbetween the photosensitive material and the film original, the filmoriginal positioning means and the photosensitive material can belocated close to each other because there is no provision of any grooveor wall present therebetween. As a result, even patterns upon the filmoriginal which are located close to the film original positioning meanscan in fact be printed.

Within the suction contact-exposure state, the exposure unit 300 ismovable upon the guide rails 317A and 317B so as to perform the scanningexposure operation, thereby completing the first color exposure by meansof a filter.

For achieving a second image exposure by means of a filter of anothercolor, the transparent cover sheet is returned to its original position,and the photosensitive material mounting table 201 is moved downwardlyto a position slightly lower than the running path of thelight-shielding curtain belt. Air is supplied by means of a nozzle 215,as seen in FIG. 2, or alternatively, the blowing side of the vacuum pump206 is utilized to supply air into the suction groove 206A so as tofurther close the light-shielding curtain belt. As a result, theoriginal and photosensitive material are easily and completely separatedfrom each other. It is to be noted that the supply of the air to thesuction groove 206A by means of the vacuum pump, and the downwardmovement of the photosensitive material mounting table, may be performedin a reverse order or at the same time. When the light-shielding cover120 is opened, the first chamber is exposed to room-light, however, thesecond chamber is still shielded from light with respect to the firstchamber, that is, a darkroom is still formed therein. In this state, thecolor separated halftone film original G, that is, at least one of thecolor separated film originals, for example, the magenta separated filmoriginal, is disposed upon the registry pins within the second chamber.After the light-shielding cover 120 is closed, the light-shieldingcurtain belt is opened, and the photosensitive material mounting table201 is moved upwardly to the same level as that of the original mountingtable 140. The transparent cover sheet is then moved to its coveredposition and suction applied thereto so as to bring the respectivesheets into tight contact with respect to each other. Thereafter, thepolygonal cylinder 301 is rotated so as to bring a new cylindricalsurface, having the new filter disposed thereon, into the predeterminedposition whereby the scanning exposure operation by means of the secondcolor filter can be performed.

Similarly, the third color separated halftone film original G, that is,at least one of the color separated film originals, for example, thecyan separated film original, and a corresponding filter are used toperform a scanning exposure operation in the same manner, therebycompleting a third exposure.

In this manner, scanning exposure operations are repeatedly performedone or several times, as necessary.

Within the conventional contact apparatus, the photosensitive materialis removed together with the film original from the contact apparatuseach time an exposure is performed. Therefore, the photosensitivematerial cannot be stably positioned relative to each exposureoperation. With the embodiment of the present invention, however, thephotosensitive material is fixed upon the photosensitive materialmounting table 201 by means of the suction forces, and thephotosensitive material mounting table 201 and the film originalmounting table 140 are separated from each other as shown in FIG. 4.Therefore, since the photosensitive material is not removed from thephotosensitive material mounting table 201 during replacement orexchange of the film originals, the photosensitive material can bepositioned with a high degree of precision or accuracy.

In addition, within the conventional color proof formation apparatus,that is, contact-exposure apparatus, a photosensitive material can behandled together with the film original under room-light conditions ifthe photosensitive material is of the type which does not become exposedunder roomlight conditions. Therefore, within the conventionalcontact-exposure apparatus, in order to perform overlapping exposureprocessing a plurality of times using a panchromatic photosensitivematerial, the latter must be carefully handled so as not to be exposedto light. In the embodiment of the present invention, however, thephotosensitive material is maintained within a darkroom by means of thelight-shielding member 240 when contact exposure is not performed, thatis, the photosensitive material mounting table 201 and the film originalmounting table 140 are separated from each other. Therefore, overlappingexposures can be performed a plurality of times using a panchromaticphotosensitive material under room light conditions in view of the factthat only the film original is replaced or exchanged.

As described above, after overlapping exposures are performed upon thesingle photosensitive material a plurality of times, the photosensitivematerial mounting table 201 is then moved downwardly to its lower limit,and the suction force is discontinued so as to release or eliminate thecontact state of the photosensitive material. Thereafter, the leadingend of the photosensitive material is fed to clamping rollers 552 bymeans of suction disks 523 or other conventional means.

The photosensitive material, the leading end of which has reached theclamping rollers 552, is then fed downwardly by means of guides 561,562, 563, 564, 565, a switching chute 566, and guide rollers 552, 553,554, 555, 556, of a conveying chute unit 550 which is best illustratedin FIG. 1. Thereafter, by switching a pivoting support shaft 568 of theswitching chute 566, the photosensitive material is conveyed by means ofits trailing end between guides 564, 566, 567, 568 to a processing unit600 by means of rollers 556, 557, 558, 559.

If a post-exposure type internal latent image direct positivephotosensitive material is being used, post-exposure is performed bymeans of an exposure lamp 531, a filter device 352, and an exposure boxor housing 356 comprising reflecting plates 353 and 354, and an exposurewindow 355 disposed within a second exposure unit 350 while or as thephotosensitive material is being conveyed within a color developmenttank 601. The photosensitive material is processed within ableach-fixing tank and a stabilizing tank, and is then slowly conveyedand dried within a drying unit 680 by means of rollers 681 and 682. Theprocessed photosensitive material is then obtained from the right endside of the apparatus.

When conveyance of the exposed photosensitive material is started withinthe conveyor chute unit 550, the following or trailing photosensitivematerial is accordingly conveyed onto the photosensitive materialmounting table 201. Such following or trailing photosensitive materialis measured, cut by means of the cutter 510, and deposited within thecontact state as described above.

When the post exposure type internal latent image direct positivephotosensitive material is to be used as the photosensitive material, asecond exposure must be performed. However, when a negative colorphotosensitive material or a solarization type photosensitive materialand e.t.c. is to be used, a second exposure light source is maintainedOFF because the second exposure need not be performed.

In addition, a photosensitive material of another type, such as, forexample, a dye-bleaching color photosensitive material, or acolor-reversal or diffusion-transfer type photosensitive material can besimilarly processed by means of the above-described system using aprocessing bath corresponding to the photosensitive material.

The direct positive photosensitive material is exposed as follows, thatis, a black separated film original is overlapped upon each one ofyellow color separated film originals of yellow, magenta, and cyan, andfilters of blue, green, and red are used in correspondence with theyellow and black originals, the magenta and black originals, and thecyan and black originals, respectively, thereby performing the suitableexposures, three times. As a result, a color proof is formed.

The negative color photosensitive material can be exposed as follows,that is, color separated film originals of yellow, magenta, and cyan areoverlapped upon the photosensitive material, one at a time, and filtersof blue, green, and red are used in correspondence with the yellow,magenta, and cyan originals, respectively, thereby performing anexposure three times. Thereafter, a black separated film original isoverlapped, and a fourth exposure is performed using an ND filter or acolor filter for correcting colors, or a triple exposure of blue, green,and red is performed.

If necessary, light corresponding to different color separation may beused in addition tO the above types of color separation exposure so asto perform another exposure, thereby obtaining a basic color suitablefor a printing ink. In addition, in order to blend the lightcorresponding to different color separation, luminescent colors of blue,green, and red may be blended, or an exposure may be performed usingfilters in combination.

Similarly, in order to reproduce a so-called "special color" suitablefor a special ink other than standards inks of yellow, magenta, cyan andblack separated film originals, exposure may be repeatedly performed,the luminescent colors may be blended, or filters may be used incombination. In this case, the special color can be reproduced byperforming an exposure using a color separated film original called aspecial color separated film original, using a combination of the colorseparated film originals called a special color separated film originaland another color separated film original, or using a plurality ofoverlapped color separated film originals, if necessary.

In the above apparatus, the exposed photosensitive material is fed intothe guide chute 565, reversed therein, and then supplied to thedeveloping unit with its emulsion surface facing upwardly. Thephotosensitive material, however, need not be fed into the guide chutebut may be turned and fed directly toward the developing unit. When thepost exposure type internal latent image direct positive photosensitivematerial is to be used as a photosensitive material, however, the secondexposure light source must be located above the developing unit andbelow the photosensitive material conveyor path. Therefore, it isdifficult to mount the light source at its desired position, or toperform maintenance thereon, and therefore, an exposure window must bedefined within the side surface of the developing tank. This is not infact preferred because cleaning of liquid leakage or the like becomesdifficult.

A photosensitive material comprises two types, that is, high andlow-sensitivity types. When the low-sensitivity type of photosensitivematerial is to be used, a plurality of light source lamps 302 may beilluminated within the polygonal cylinder 301 within the exposure unit300 so as to increase the intensity of the exposure light.

By performing an operation of reducing the scanning rate, and anoperation of varying the opening ratio of the exposure window 310 eithersingly or in combination, exposure can be performed with a high degreeof quality by properly satisfying contrary conditions.

Although a full-color photosensitive material is used within theabove-described embodiment, the photosensitive material is not solimited. In addition, the color proof formation apparatus of the presentinvention may be an apparatus serving as only an exposure typeapparatus.

According to the present invention, in the contact-exposure apparatuswithin which exposure is performed from a film original side,overlapping exposure can be performed a plurality of times upon a singlephotosensitive material by only replacing placing a film originalwithout removing the photosensitive material from the contact-exposureapparatus, thereby improving the operability thereof. In addition, thepositional precision of the photosensitive material is effectivelyimproved.

Still further, according to the present invention, the suction groove isformed upon contact exposure between the film original mounting tableand the photosensitive material mounting table so as to bring a filmoriginal and a photosensitive material into tight contact with respectto each other. Therefore, since no suction groove is present within thecontact-exposure apparatus of the present invention when an exposure isnot being performed, the suction groove does not tend to become suffedor clogged with dust, chips of material or the like. Furthermore, nosuction groove is formed within the film mounting table and thephotosensitive material mounting table, while air disposed at the centerof the film original can be easily evacuated, and patterns upon the filmoriginal close to the film original positioning means can be printedupon the photosensitive material. Therefore, formation of the filmmounting table and the photosensitive material mounting table can beeasily performed.

In addition, according to the present invention, the suction groove isdefined or located close to the pin bars beneath the film original sothat it can easily obtain vacuum contact between the photosensitivematerial and the color separated film original.

Moreover, according to the present invention, when exposure is not beingperformed, that is, when the photosensitive material mounting table isseparated from the film original mounting table, the photosensitivematerial is maintained within a darkroom environment. Therefore,overlapped exposure of a panchromatic photosensitive material can beperformed a plurality of times by replacing only a film original.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the presentinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A color proof formation method, comprising thesteps of:placing a first original film at a predetermined position uponan original mounting table; fixing a color photosensitive material at apredetermined position upon a color photosensitive material mountingtable, which is separate from, disposed beneath, and independentlymovable with respect to said original mounting table in a vertical modebetween an upper position and a lower position, when said colorphotosensitive material mounting table is disposed at said lowerposition such that said color photosensitive material is substantiallyvertically aligned with said first original film disposed upon saidoriginal mounting table; elevating said color photosensitive materialmounting table from said lower position to said upper position such thatsaid color photosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitivematerial mounting table is disposed in tight contact with said firstoriginal film disposed upon said original mounting table; exposing saidcolor photosensitive material through said first original film by meansof a light source; lowering said color photosensitive material mountingtable from said upper position to said lower position so as to separatesaid color photosensitive material mounting table, with said colorphotosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting tablewith said first original film disposed thereon; replacing said firstoriginal film disposed upon said original table with a second originalfilm while said color photosensitive material is retained at saidpredetermined position upon said color photosensitive material mountingtable; and repeating said steps of elevating said color photosensitivematerial mounting table, exposing said color photosensitive material,lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table, andreplacing a predetermined original film with a successive original filma predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material and the filmoriginal are brought into tight contact with each other by suction.
 3. A.[.method according to claim 1, wherein:.]. .Iadd.color proof formationmethod, comprising the steps of:placing a first original film at apredetermined position upon an original mounting table:fixing a colorphotosensitive material at a predetermined position upon a colorphotosensitive material mounting table, which is separate from, disposedbeneath, and independently movable with respect to said originalmounting table in a vertical mode between an upper position and a lowerposition, when said color photosensitive material mounting table isdisposed at said lower position such that said color photosensitivematerial is substantially vertically aligned with said first originalfilm disposed upon said original mounting table; elevating said colorphotosensitive material mounting table from said lower position to saidupper position such that said color photosensitive material fixed uponsaid color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed in tightcontact with said first original film disposed upon said originalmounting table; exposing said color photosensitive material through saidfirst original film by means of a light source; lowering said colorphotosensitive material mounting table from said upper position to saidlower position so as to separate said color photosensitive materialmounting table, with said color photosensitive material fixed thereon,from said original mounting table with said first original film disposedthereon; replacing said first original film disposed upon said originaltable with a second original film while said color photosensitivematerial is retained at said predetermined position upon said colorphotosensitive material mounting table; wherein .Iaddend.a halftoneoriginal is inserted between one of said original films and said colorphotosensitive material during exposure.Iadd.; and repeating said stepsof elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table, exposingsaid color photosensitive material, lowering said color photosensitivematerial mounting table, and replacing a predetermined original filmwith a successive original film a predetermined number of times so as toform a color proof.Iaddend..
 4. A .[.method according to claim 1,wherein when said mounting table and said original table are separatedfrom each other,.]. .Iadd.color proof formation method, comprising thesteps of:placing a first original film at a predetermined position uponan original mounting table: fixing a color photosensitive material at apredetermined position upon a color photosensitive material mountingtable, which is separate from, disposed beneath, and independentlymovable with respect to said original mounting table in a vertical modebetween an upper position and a lower position, when said colorphotosensitive material mounting table is disposed at said lowerposition such that said color photosensitive material is substantiallyvertically aligned with said first original film disposed upon saidoriginal mounting table; elevating said color photosensitive materialmounting table from said lower position to said upper position such thatsaid color photosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitivematerial mounting table is disposed in tight contact with said firstoriginal film disposed upon said original mounting table; exposing saidcolor photosensitive material through said first original film by meansof a light source; lowering said color photosensitive material mountingtable from said upper position to said lower position so as to separatesaid color photosensitive material mounting table, with said colorphotosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting tablewith said first original film disposed thereon and shielding the lightsensitive material from light using .Iaddend.a light-shielding member.[.shields the photosensitive material from light.]..Iadd.; replacingsaid first original film disposed upon said original table with a secondoriginal film while said color photosensitive material is retained atsaid predetermined position upon said color photosensitive materialmounting table; and repeating said steps of elevating said colorphotosensitive material mounting table, exposing said colorphotosensitive material, lowering said color photosensitive materialmounting table, and replacing a predetermined original film with asuccessive original film a predetermined number of times so as to form acolor proof.Iaddend..
 5. A .[.method according to claim 1, wherein:.]..Iadd.color proof formation method, comprising the steps of:placing afirst original film at a predetermined position upon an originalmounting table:fixing a color photosensitive material at a predeterminedposition upon a color photosensitive material mounting table, which isseparate from, disposed beneath, and independently movable with respectto said original mounting table in a vertical mode between an upperposition and a lower position, when said color photosensitive materialmounting table is disposed at said lower position such that said colorphotosensitive material is substantially vertically aligned with saidfirst original film disposed upon said original mounting table;elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table from saidlower position to said upper position such that said colorphotosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitive materialmounting table is disposed in tight contact with said first originalfilm disposed upon said original mounting table; exposing said colorphotosensitive material through said first original film by means of alight source; lowering said color photosensitive material mounting tablefrom said upper position to said lower position so as to separate saidcolor photosensitive material mounting table, with said colorphotosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting tablewith said first original film disposed thereon; replacing said firstoriginal film disposed upon said original table with a second originalfilm while said color photosensitive material is retained at saidpredetermined position upon said color photosensitive material mountingtable; wherein .Iaddend.one of said original films is covered by meansof a transparent material during exposure.Iadd.; and repeating saidsteps of elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table,exposing said color photosensitive material, lowering said colorphotosensitive material mounting table, and replacing a predeterminedoriginal film with a successive original film a predetermined number oftimes so as to form a color proof.Iaddend.. .Iadd.
 6. A color proofformation method, comprising the steps of:(i) fixing a colorphotosensitive material at a first predetermined position on a colorphotosensitive material mounting table by a first sucking means; (ii)placing a first original film at a second predetermined position on thecolor photosensitive material so as to bring the original film intocontact with the color photosensitive material; (iii) covering theoriginal film and the color photosensitive material with alight-transmittable cover sheet; (iv) fixing the cover sheet by a secondsucking means so that the original film and the color photosensitivematerial are brought into tight contact; (v) exposing the colorphotosensitive material through the cover sheet for printing theoriginal film on the color photosensitive material; (vi) replacing thefirst original film with a second original film; (vii) repeating saidsteps of placing the original film, covering with the cover sheet,fixing the cover sheet, exposing the color photosensitive material, andreplacing the original film with a successive original film apredetermined number of times so as to form a color proof, while thecolor photosensitive material is retained at the first predeterminedposition on said color photosensitive material mounting table by thefirst sucking means. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. The method of claim 6, whereinthe first and the second sucking means can be independently controlled..Iaddend..Iadd.8. In the method of claim 6, further comprising the stepof determining the predetermined position of the original film by aposition determining means before the step of placing the original filmon the photosensitive material. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The method of claim 8,wherein the position determining means is a position pin bar..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The method of claim 8, wherein the positiondetermining means is operated under roomlight conditions during thesteps of fixing a color photosensitive material and replacing theoriginal film. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. In the method of claim 6, between theexposing and replacing steps, further comprising the step of moving thecolor photosensitive material mounting table with the colorphotosensitive material away from the original film so as to separatethe original film from the color photosensitive material..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The method of claim 6, wherein the colorphotosensitive material mounting table is movable between an upperposition and a lower position in a vertical direction..Iaddend..Iadd.13. In the method of claim 12, after the step of fixingthe color photosensitive material, further comprising moving the colorphotosensitive material mounting tables to the upper position so as tocontact the original film. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. In the method of claim 12,between the exposing and replacing steps, further comprising moving thecolor photosensitive material mounting table to the lower position so asto separate the photosensitive material from the first original film..Iaddend..Iadd.15. The method of claim 14, wherein, after the colorphotosensitive material and the original film are separated from eachother, a light-shielding member shields the color photosensitivematerial from light. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The method of claim 6, whereinthe first sucking means and the second sucking means use a vacuum pump..Iaddend..Iadd.17. In the method of claim 6, before the exposing step,further comprising inserting a halftone original between one of theoriginal films and the color photosensitive material. .Iaddend..Iadd.18.The method of claim 3, wherein the photosensitive material and theoriginal film are brought into tight contact with each other by suction..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The method of claim 4, wherein the photosensitivematerial and the original film are brought into tight contact with eachother by suction. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The method of claim 5, wherein thephotosensitive material and the original film are brought into tightcontact with each other by suction. .Iaddend.